As per reports in Cricbuzz, Team India players will be undergoing COVID tests before entering the team hotel for the upcoming series against England. The players will be tested by team doctor Abhijit Salvi and the formalities need to be completed y the morning of January 27. England will tour India between February 5 to March 28 for four Tests, five T20Is and three ODIs. Chennai will host the first two Tests. The final two Tests will be played at the newly built stadium in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad will host the T20I series followed by Pune for the ODI series. 

The BCCI directive comes just days after the Indian players arrived from Australia, where they were in a bio bubble and on arrival in India, were all advised to be in home quarantine.

“We have been told to be in the hotel by 26th night or 27th morning,” said a Team India member confirming the Covid instructions from the BCCI. Salvi will also be part of the contingent, as he was during the entire tour Down Under recently.

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Meanwhile, Cricbuzz has also learned that it was ECB’s request to play the Test series in closed doors to which the BCCI has respectfully nodded their heads.

“That is what we have been told. No one should enter the ground during match or practice. Even I cannot be inside the ground,” said S Ramaswamy, the secretary of the hosts Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). 

Meanwhile, predictions on the upcoming series between India and England have already started. Former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene said that England are well prepared for the India series having comprehensively beaten the island nation in their own backyard. 

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He also said that England spinners will face a tougher challenge in India conditions and against quality batsmen. Former England skipper Nasser Hussain said that England will be facing a tough Indian side with Virat Kohli back in the team as captain. England lost 4-0 the last time they played a Test series in India. Alastair Cook was leading the side back then. 

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